Swinging through the Second Year

Wow, Ryan and Lucie are 18 months old today. It's funny to think that a year ago they were just beginning solid foods, and today they had apple slices, string cheese and oatmeal cookies for lunch. Everyone says babies grow quickly, but I never thought it would go by this quickly.

Here's a little peek into life at age one-and-a-half:

Mealtime - Both Ryan and Lucie love fruit, with a special place in their hearts for blueberries. They could easily eat a whole container in one sitting. Lucie's other favorites include cream cheese and chicken, while Ryan lights up for scrambled eggs and hummus (sometimes together - yum, yum).

Favorite Books - Some recent hits include big picture books like "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo" and "Goodnight Gorilla".

Fears - When the "Black Beast" (our vacuum cleaner) comes out of the closet for a clean-up, R & L go running from the room. We try not to bring it out too often (which explains our stained carpets), but when it's absolutely necessary, I often end up vacuuming with a baby in one arm, and another sitting safely on the couch.

Latest Fascinations - Lucie is trying to climb everything. She just figured out how to climb into her stroller and wagon, and is working on tables and chairs. Scary! Ryan is mesmerized by the blender, toaster and waffler. When he gets really worked up over something, I'll take him on a tour of the kitchen and he's soon smiling again.